The Big Three's evening newscasts all devoted full reports on Friday to the FBI's release of its notes on their interview of Hillary Clinton over her e-mail scandal. However, ABC's Cecilia Vega stood out for spotlighting how "careless," as FBI Director James Comey put it, Mrs. Clinton was in her handling of classified material on her private e-mail server: "Just how careless? Investigators say 81 e-mail chains on Clinton's basement server contained classified information at the time they were sent; 68 of them remain classified to this day." [video below]
NBC's Andrea Mitchell omitted the e-mail chains detail during her report on the new development, but pointed out that Clinton "told the FBI she didn't recall receiving any e-mails she thought shouldn't be on an unclassified system — including e-mails about the targets of future drone strikes." CBS's Julianna Goldman took a similar approach as Mitchell, but zeroed in how the FBI "didn't have access to the 13 smart-phones the report found Clinton may have used....One aide recalled two times where he destroyed old mobile devices by breaking them in half or hitting them with a hammer."
On World News Tonight, substitute anchor Tom Llamas noted that "the FBI director called her handling of sensitive material — quote, 'very careless.' And tonight, these new documents are fueling that claim." Vega first highlighted that the "previously-secret FBI documents revealing just how little about her e-mails Hillary Clinton could remember during that three-and-a-half-hour interview at FBI headquarters — the FBI noting Clinton used the phrase 'do not recall' more than two dozen times."
After explaining "how careless" the former secretary of state and her aides were, the ABC correspondent disclosed that "Clinton told agents she worked part-time after her 2012 concussion, and that she could not recall every briefing she received." Vega also reported Donald Trump's reaction to the FBI's release of its notes. Llamas followed up on this subject by asking, "Is her campaign responding?" She replied, "Her campaign says these documents make the case for why she was not charged. But look, new polls show that Hillary Clinton is more unpopular than ever; and these documents are not going to help on that front."
Goldman raised the issue of the possible hacking of Mrs. Clinton's e-mail sever midway through her report on CBS Evening News. She continued with her detail about the aide who destroyed two of the former senator's cell phones:
JULIANNA GOLDMAN: While investigators said cyber-attackers tried to gain access to Clinton's server, the FBI found no evidence they were successful. But it couldn't conclude that the information on her server wasn't compromised — in part, because they didn't have access to the 13 smart-phones the report found Clinton may have used. Clinton's lawyers said they couldn't locate them. One aide recalled two times where he destroyed old mobile devices by breaking them in half or hitting them with a hammer.
On NBC Nightly News, fill-in anchor Thomas Roberts introduced Mitchell's reporting by underlining how "the FBI took an unusual step today — releasing its notes from Hillary Clinton's lengthy recent interview with agents about how she handled her e-mails while secretary of state. The release is certain to fuel the controversy that has hounded Clinton for a year and a half." The correspondent led with a clip of Mrs. Clinton's dismissive "with a cloth or something" answer to a question about the e-mail sever at an August 2015 press conference. Mitchell summarized the FBI notes, and soon referenced the issue of the CIA's drone program. She later included a soundbite of Democratic Rep, Adam Schiff defending the FBI's handling of the investigation: "When you can't find any evidence of intent to do wrong, there's no way to go forward with a case."
The full transcripts of Cecilia Vega's report on ABC's World News Tonight; Julianna Goldman's report on CBS Evening News; and Andrea Mitchell's report on NBC Nightly News — all of which aired on September 2, 2016:
09/02/2016
06:36 pm EDT
ABC — World News TonightTOM LLAMAS: We do move on now to politics and that breaking news from the FBI — notes from their interview with Hillary Clinton. The agency was investigating whether she sent or stored classified investigation on her private server when she was secretary of state. In the end, she was not charged, but the FBI director called her handling of sensitive material — quote, 'very careless.' And tonight, these new documents are fueling that claim.
Here's ABC's Cecilia Vega.
CECILIA VEGA (voice-over): Tonight, previously-secret FBI documents revealing just how little about her e-mails Hillary Clinton could remember during that three-and-a-half-hour interview at FBI headquarters — the FBI noting Clinton used the phrase 'do not recall' more than two dozen times — 58 pages in all, including notes from agents' interviews with Clinton herself.
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE (from June 5, 2016 interview): I will say it was a mistake. I would not do it again.
VEGA: Clinton has apologized — and the FBI concluded there was not enough evidence to charge her with any crime.
JAMES COMEY, FBI DIRECTOR (from July 5, 2016 press conference): There is evidence that they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly-classified information.
VEGA: Just how careless? Investigators say 81 e-mail chains on Clinton's basement server contained classified information at the time they were sent; 68 of them remain classified to this day — in one exchange, the letter 'C' clearly marked — meaning, 'classified information.'
When asked about it, the former secretary of state said she did not know what 'C' meant. The FBI later saying it's not clear someone in her position would have known. Responding to questions about preserving government records as she left her post at the State Department, Clinton told agents she worked part-time after her 2012 concussion, and that she could not recall every briefing she received.
Tonight, Donald Trump pouncing — saying, 'Hillary Clinton's answers to the FBI about her private e-mail server defy belief. I really don't understand how she was able to get away from prosecution.'
LLAMAS (live): And Cecilia joins us now. Cecilia, we just heard from Donald Trump right there. He and the Republicans are not going to let up on this. Is her campaign responding?
VEGA: Well, Tom, her campaign says these documents make the case for why she was not charged. But look, new polls show that Hillary Clinton is more unpopular than ever; and these documents are not going to help on that front. Tom?
LLAMAS: Cecilia, thank you.
And these new documents prompted House Speaker Paul Ryan to renew his call for Hillary Clinton to be denied access to classified information.
09/02/2016
06:35 pm EDT
CBS Evening NewsMAURICE DUBOIS: On the eve of the [Labor Day] holiday, the FBI released 58 pages of documents on its now-closed criminal investigation of Hillary Clinton's use of private e-mail servers while she was secretary of state.
Here's Julianna Goldman.
JULIANNA GOLDMAN (voice-over): During her three-and-a-half-hour interview on July 2, FBI investigators showed Hillary Clinton classified e-mails from her personal account while secretary of state. Many she didn't remember. Clinton didn't recall receive any e-mails she thought should not be on an unclassified system; and repeatedly said she relied on State officials to use their best judgment when handling classified information. Asked what 'C' referred to on one e-mail, Clinton stated she did not know, and could only speculate it was referencing paragraphs marked in alphabetical order. She questioned the classification level, and said she saw the e-mail as a condolence call.
JAMES COMEY, FBI DIRECTOR (from July 5, 2016 press conference): Good morning.
GOLDMAN: Days later, the FBI announced there was no evidence Clinton or her aides intentionally mishandled classified information, but Director James Comey was still critical.
COMEY: They were extremely careless.
GOLDMAN: Today, the Clinton campaign said the 'materials made clear why the Justice Department believed there was no basis to move forward.' But Donald Trump seized on the rare release of FBI documents — saying, 'I really don't understand how she was able to get away from prosecution.'
While investigators said cyber-attackers tried to gain access to Clinton's server, the FBI found no evidence they were successful. But it couldn't conclude that the information on her server wasn't compromised — in part, because they didn't have access to the 13 smart-phones the report found Clinton may have used. Clinton's lawyers said they couldn't locate them. One aide recalled two times where he destroyed old mobile devices by breaking them in half or hitting them with a hammer.
GOLDMAN (on-camera): The documents will also certainly give ammunition to Trump and his supporters, who've been questioning Clinton's health. She told investigators, Maurice, that she couldn't recall every briefing she received at the end of her tenure — in part, because Clinton was working less after her concussion and subsequent blood clot.
DUBOIS: Julianna Goldman in Washington tonight.
09/02/2016
07:07 pm EDT
NBC Nightly NewsTHOMAS ROBERTS: The FBI took an unusual step today — releasing its notes from Hillary Clinton's lengthy recent interview with agents about how she handled her e-mails while secretary of state. The release is certain to fuel the controversy that has hounded Clinton for a year and a half.
We get more this evening from Andrea Mitchell.
[NBC News Graphic: "Clinton FBI Files; FBI Releases Files On Clinton Interview"]
ANDREA MITCHELL (voice-over): Hillary Clinton's three-and-a-half-hour FBI interview exactly one month ago about a controversy she once seemed to dismiss.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER (off-camera): You were the official in charge. Did you wipe the server?
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE (from August 18, 2015 press conference): What — like, with a cloth or something?
MITCHELL: The FBI notes reveal there are many things she actually didn't know about classified information — didn't recall being trained on how to handle it; relied on staff to use their judgment when e-mailing her; Clinton telling the FBI she didn't know the letter 'C' on an e-mail meant 'confidential' — the lowest level of classification — speculating it was referring to the order of paragraphs.
Donald Trump pouncing.
DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: That's a lie — unless she's not an intelligent person. She's put you and me and everybody in this country at great danger.
MITCHELL: The FBI director has said her e-mails had classified information. But she told the FBI she didn't recall receiving any e-mails she thought shouldn't be on an unclassified system — including e-mails about the targets of future drone strikes.
MITCHELL (on-camera): Clinton told the FBI she did not receive instructions on preserving her records when she left office; but she had just suffered a concussion, and could not recall every briefing she had received.
MITCHELL (voice-over): The FBI director has cleared her of any charges, but was also sharply critical.
JAMES COMEY, FBI DIRECTOR (from July 5, 2016 press conference): There is evidence that they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly-classified information.
REPRESENTATIVE ADAM SCHIFF, (D), CALIFORNIA: When you can't find any evidence of intent to do wrong, there's no way to go forward with a case.
MITCHELL: Clinton aides saying they're happy the FBI notes are public; and she's acknowledged using a private e-mail server was a mistake. Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, Washington.
